Fire-escape



M. MAKELY. HRB ESCAPE.

/la/tentedAug. 4, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OErrcE.

METRAH MAKELY, OF NEV BERNE, NORTH CAROLINA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,285, dated August 4, 1891.

Application tiled February 20, 1891. Serial No. 382,267. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

lBe it known that I, METRAH MAKELY, of New Berne, in the county of Craven and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specilcation.

My invention is an improved lire-escape, and has for its object to provide a simple novel construction which may be used upon an ordinary rope and can be safely used and readily controlled in the escape and descent of persons from burning buildings.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l shows the invention as in use, and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the improved escape.

The improved escape, as shown, consists of the two clamp-sections A A and the two pressers B B. The clamp-sections A A are pivoted together at a and have their portions above such pivot arranged and adapted to press and clamp a rope passed longitudinally between them. Below the pivot a the clamp-sections are extended to forni handles A', which are actuated apart by an interposed spring C to cause the upper portions to clamp against the rope, and may be pressed together or toward each other by the operator to release the clamp from the rope and permit the descent of the escape and the person `supported thereby.

A screw D, threaded through one handle and arranged for engagement by the inner end of the other handle, forms an adj ustableV stop to limit the extent to which the clamp may be opened or eased up on the rope in th descent of the escape.

The pressers B are jointed at their upper ends at b to the upper ends of the clamp-sections A, and extend thence diagonally across the clamp, and are cach provided with a crosspin or bearing portion b', arranged to bear against the outer side of the clamp-section opposite that to which the particular presser is jointed. The weight of the escaping person is borne upon the outer ends of the pressers by means of a sling connected with said pressers, as shown, or in other suitable manner. In the construction as shown the pressers are in the nature of bars bent between their ends, forming the bend at B to support the link to which the sling E is connected and having the arms extending along the opposite sides of the clamp, and jointed at their ends to the clamp-section by'means of the pivotbolts, as shown. and strong, can be cheaplymade, and is easy of application to therope and efficient in use.

The operation is simple and will be readily understood. The rope passes down between the clamp-sections, and the weight of the per-y son upon the pressers causes the same to force their bearings b against the outer sides of the opposite clam p-sections, forcing such sections firmly against the rope and clamping the escape against any downward motion. It will be seen that the leverage secured by the location of the joints b and bearings b of the pressers is such that the clamps will be forced by the weight of the escaping person so stronglyagainst the rope as to stop the descent of the escape, and to prevent the escape from gaining a downward headway before such weight has time to act l arrange the spring C to force the clamp-sections againstf the rope. To permit 'the escape to descend, the person descending grasps the handles A of the clamp-sections and presses them toward each other. This releases the clamp-sections or eases up their pressureon the rope and permits the descent of the escape. The screw D may be set to limit the inward movement of the handles to prevent the clamp from being opened too far. ing the handles the escape may be lowered slowly to the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. An improved fire-escape comprising a pair of clamp-sections pivoted4 together and having above such pivot portions arranged to press against and grip the rope, and a pair of pressers co-operating with the said clampsections and arranged-and adapted to sustain the weight of the escaping person, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved fire-escape comprising a clamp adapted to grip the rope and having handle portions, whereby the pressure or grip of such clamp upon the rope may be regulated, and a pair of pressers arranged to sustain the weight of the escaping person and to By properly manipulat- This construction is simple IOO operate by the force f such weight to tighten .the clamp upon the rope, substantially as shown 'and described.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination of a clamp composed of pivoted sections jointed midway their ends and arranged above such joint to press upon the rope and below such joint to serve as handles, by Which the pressure of the sections upon the rope may be regulated, and presser devices arranged to sustain the weight of the escaping person and to operate by the force of such Weight to tighten the pivoted clamp-sections upon the rope, substantially as set forth.

4. The improved lire-escape herein described, composed of the clamp and the pressers, such pressers being jointed to the clamp at the opposite sides thereof and extended thence diagonally alongside and across the clamp and provided with bearing portions arranged to press against the clamp at the sides of the clamp opposite their joints therewith, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination of the pair of clamp-sections and the pair of pressers jointed to such clamp-sections and provided with bearing portions arranged to yengage the clamp-sections, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

6. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the clamp-sections A, pivoted together at d, the pressers B, jointed at b to the clamp-sections and provided at b With bearing portions arranged to press against the outer sides of the clamp-sections, substantially as set forth.

7.- An improved fire-escape comprising the clamp adapted to grip the rope and the pressers jointed to the said clamp and formed of bars bent between their ends and provided with bearings arranged to press against the opposite sides of the clamp, substantially as set forth.

8. The lire-escape 'herein described, consisting of the clamp-sections A, pivoted at a and having handles A', the spring C, and screw D, and the pressers B, jointed at b to the clamp-sections and provided With bearings b', all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

A METRAH MAK ELY.

Vitnesses:

WV. B. SMITH, EDWD. M. SMALLWooD. 

